I wallowed in self pity for most of the day today. I cried a lot. Really, like a whole lot.
Lucy is fine (medically.). We are just having to make some hard choices right now related to school. Please just keep us in your prayers.
But tonight I want to share with you something that has me torn apart. It served as a great reminder that I'm not the only one in this world that is suffering.
A sorority sister of mine and her husband (who was a fraternity brother of Erik's) had a little baby boy last week. They knew he would be born with half a heart so they have been preparing for a really rough road ahead of them. Caleb is his name and he is not doing well.
Please stop right now and pray for Caleb and his parents. Our lives have been sustained by the prayers that have been sent up for us on a daily basis. I am confident that your prayers for Caleb, Ashley and Zach will be heard.
I hope the cry made you feel a bit better.
ReplyDeletePraying for Caleb and his mom and dad, life is so rough sometimes.
I will stop and pray for little Caleb right now, my sister in Christ. I'll be praying for you, too, as you deal with the repurcussions of Lucy's illness. I know you feel so blessed that she's alive and healthy, but I also know that your mama's heart aches at her difficulties. I love your blog...and I love your family...I feel like I know you in person, even though we've never met. Thank you for your transparency on here...it's an honor to pray alongside other believers.
ReplyDeleteGod bless,
Jennifer
As a teacher, I recommend that Lucy move on with other children in the class. It doesn't matter which classroom she is in, but rather than she continue to learn and grow at her speed and on her continuum. I hope she has a classroom aid that can help her with the academics. Her social and emotional growth is what is critical right now...
ReplyDeletePraying for little Caleb...
praying for Caleb and his parents - and you and your family also.
ReplyDeleteKate, my older kids were homeschooled and I never imagined anything other than having all of my kids at home. Then, Eli was diagnosed with Autism. His therapies were so numerous and time consuming that we felt the only right thing to do was to put the older kids in public school. Eli was only two at that time, but he moved seamlessly into our sped preschool and is now at BES continuing his therapies and education, happy as a clam. I never thought it would work out like this and I agonized over it for years. God is good. It isn't easy, but it works.
ReplyDeleteI will definitely pray for baby Caleb! Are they local? Having experienced the "half a heart" with two kids, I offer my support.
Lisa
I stopped and prayed!
ReplyDeleteThank you for that request. It is awesome that we can STOP right where we are and worship our Lord and Savior. What a gift we have to be able to ask Him for healing and Grace to be felt. Thanks for the reminder.
May Caleb and his family feel the prayers being poured out for them.
Check out http://bowensheart.com Matt Hammitt (Sanctus Real) has a son with the same thing & this blog is all about it. Praying for Caleb & continuing to pray for your family!
ReplyDeletePraying for little Caleb and his family. Also continue to life up Lucy and your family.
ReplyDeleteI'm praying for Caleb and his family.......
ReplyDeleteI will definitely pray for Caleb and his parents! And I am praying for Lucy and her school situation. As an elementary school teacher, I know that students make a lot of progress in first grade. Lucy will learn in her own time. With your continued love and support, Lucy will get there. :) It sounds as if she is in a wonderful school as well, and they will help her too. Keep trusting God that He has Lucy in his hands, and He will keep guiding her.
ReplyDeletePraying
ReplyDeleteKate, no matter what you decide it will be OK. As a Christian you know that this life is but a breath and our life in heaven what we look forward to. I am a homeschooling mother with many friends who home school. We all believe in a more relaxed approach, giving our children an abundance of material but allowing them to learn and be curious at their own pace. What it is producing is a host of children that are excelling because they are so curious! What I'm saying is that you do whatever you need to do, whether it's to hold her back again, move her forward with an aid, or any other options you have. It's just school. What is really important is that Lucy learn to love the Lord her God with all her heart, with all her soul, and with all her strength and to love her neighbor as herself. And Kate, it sounds like you've already excelled and succeeded in both of those but by the grace of God. Be at peace sister in Christ, Lucy will fulfill God's purpose for her at her own pace.
ReplyDeleteThinking of, and praying for, you Kate as you make these decisions. And praying also for Ashley, Zach and their son Caleb.
ReplyDeleteNavigating the school system is hard. I am a special education teacher. I worked in school age special education for 12 years and just recently switched to preschool special education. There are many services available in special education but sometimes parents have to push for them. Take advantage of every service they will provide. They can even provide services to Lucy over the summer if she has an IEP. I wish you luck in your decision making process. Having a child that is sick is one thing then to have a child that has to also deal with learning delays is another thing.
ReplyDeleteMy heart is sad for little Lucy and your family. All you want is to move forward and to grow but it seems there are more obstecales to overcome at every comer. While I don't know what the right decision is all I can offer are my payers. And more prayers for the new family of Ashely, Zach, and Caleb. I know he will live a courageous life with his family cheering him on all the way!!
ReplyDeleteKate and Eric you inspire me everyday in your faith, your attitude about life, and how you raise your kiddos. While I myself do not have kids yet I have gone thru my fair share of struggles and I find strength from reading about how you get through Lucy's struggles. I want to thank you for sharing your story no matter how difficult it is at times because it has helped me and I don't know where I would be with it honestly.
Hi Kate!
ReplyDeleteI know your heart hurts having to make school decisions for Lucy but trust me, this is the time to make the changes. She is young and she will adapt and will learn at the pace that is best for her. I pray for her and your family EVERY day and hold you all so close to my heart. I have never met any of you but I feel like you are family.
I am adding your dear friends in my prayers as well. My daughter, Sydney, was born with half a heart. She has hypo-plastic right heart, tricuspid atresia and pulmonary atresia. Basically the right side (2 chambers) of her heart did not form. She has had 3 open heart surgeries and she will be 16 this summer!!! All of her surgeries were done at AR Children's Hospital - they were and continue to be an amazing group of doctors and nurses! Please tell your friends that they are never alone in this journey - your constant prayer warriors will share our prayers, love and support with them as well
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Give your babies big hugs from Little Rock :-)
I have a friend from high school whose daughter was just diagnosed with leukemia. They have a long hard road ahead of them, as you know all too well. In reading her latest post on facebook with the latest update, I immediately thought of your family. I recommended your blog to her. I have always admired her faith as a Christian woman and I admire yours, Kate, as well. As I read of Lucy, her baby Grace, and little Caleb who you mentioned, I sit and cry tears for your babies. And as I cried for them I became so ashamed of myself. I have had a long couple of Mommy days (hubby working all weekend, etc.) and I have lost my patience with the kids several times today as they were just "being kids". As I read your stories tonight, God spoke to me to remind me that I have three healthy babies and that health and happiness can be taken away from us in the blink of an eye. I must remember daily that "they're just being kids" and that I am so blessed to have three little ones who love me unconditionally and look up to me simply because I am their Mama! God Bless each and every baby out there!!!
ReplyDeleteI read your blog often but have never commented. My son was born in Feb. with a heart defect that went undetected. He almost died right after birth but he had the will to live and pulled through open heart surgery and spent 6 weeks in the hospital recovering. I understand their pain and I pray for them.
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